National Outreach Convention

100 Outreach Idea Starters

Lindy Lowry

Bring your ideas and hear from other church leaders like you on what has (and hasn't) worked to connect with and engage people in your community. Walk away with 100+ fresh and creative ways to tell people far from God that He loves them.

5 Things You Should Know About Millennials

Bobby Brewer

Most church leaders have noticed a change in the way young adults (a.k.a Millennials) approach church but don’t how to minister to them. They’ve quickly learned that reaching the emerging culture goes much deeper than simply dressing casual and tweaking worship styles. In this breakout, Bobby Brewer will discuss innovative approaches for creating and/or reinventing your young adults ministry, while giving you an inside look into the minds and hearts of today’s young adults (both evangelical and non-Christian). You’ll also learn from leaders who are intentionally and effectively ministering to Millennials without losing their jobs or compromising essential Christian doctrine.

A Holistic and Multiethnic Approach to Outreach

Efrem Smith

In an ever-increasing multiethnic and multicultural society, the Church must mirror the changing world to become true and authentic Kingdom-builders. In this breakout, we'll look at the theology of multiethnic and multicultural ministry and consider new, culture-engaging models for outreach and evangelism.

Always Settle for More: Experiencing a Life and Ministry Beyond Limits

Bil Cornelius

Are you frustrated, feeling like ministry has more to offer than you're currently experiencing? Could it be that you've settled for less in your life and in your church? Desiring more in life can be a good thing. If we didn't have a divine discontent, we wouldn't be ready to make some important changes. This breakout will lay out a road map for explosive growth both personally and in your Church.

An Incomplete Gospel: Reconnecting Cause and Christ

Jason Hayes

Jesus came to save and show us how to serve. But as more churches and Christians pursue social justice, we seem to have lost that connection between Christ’s example of service and His Gospel. The bottom line: Real justice doesn’t exist without Jesus. As we engage emerging generations, we have a responsibility to marry examples of lives that engage this world and its issues with the message of the Gospel. Learn how and why reconnecting cause and Christ translates into effective avenues for reaching those far from God while also unifying the body of Christ.

An Influent Stream: Design a Revolution That Refreshes Your City

Marlon Hall

The local Church is called to be an influent stream flowing outside its walls to encounter unfamiliar cultural landscapes. It should dynamically move in the city to inspire a new passion where static ponds of social apathy and unhealthy lifestyle choices leave its citizens thirsty for change. Hear the story of how one local church, eight local bands, and 48 local bars inspired new music, quenched spiritual thirst and raised awareness of social justice opportunities in Houston. You’ll learn the principles of how influent streams (1) must influence culture; (2) will awaken human sensibilities; (3) can raise social awareness; and (4) quench spiritual thirst in 52 weeks.

Back to Church Sunday

Eric Abel

Most people in the U.S. have been to church at least once; many have nothing against it, but no longer attend simply because they haven't made time for it. In fact, many people are happy to attend a church service if someone they know invites them-but who's inviting them? Join Eric Abel as he explores why people leave the church, and what will get them back. You'll also look at the remarkably simple idea behind Back to Church Sunday, the campaign from Outreach designed to equip church members to welcome their neighbors, friends and loved ones back to church. You'll learn how to partner with other churches in your area, and you'll leave with practical planning tools and materials to get you started!

Building a Church Without Walls

Mark Foreman

For too long, the Church has been withdrawn from mainstream culture protected in her castle. It’s time for us to reframe her to be a Church without walls that moves our congregations into culture as salt and light. Learn from Pastor and author Mark Foreman as he offers practical tools and examples of what happens on earth and in heaven when leaders rethink outreach and evangelism to build churches with no walls.

Church Next: A Panel of Innovators

Greg Ligon

with: Greg Surratt, Larry Osborne, Dave Ferguson, Dino Rizzo, Greg Atkinson, and Hugh Halter
What's next for the Church? Come and interact with some of the most innovative leaders in today's Church to discover insight into what God is doing in and through our churches. You'll leave with hands on resources for your church and ministry.

City Signals: Connecting Service to True Outreach and Growth

Brad Smith

Local community service, short-term missions and marketplace ministry are becoming hallmarks of outreach-oriented churches. In this breakout, we'll discuss the latest trends, emerging principles and ways to connect these initiatives to both outreach and participants' spiritual growth. Learn new perspectives and practical next steps for creating an outreach culture and developing leaders who make a difference in themselves and others.

Effective Outreach in an Unchurched World

Troy Gramling

South Florida is a multigenerational, multicultural and post-Christian melting pot and a reflection of what the world is fast becoming. Some 85 percent of the people who call Flamingo Road Church home come from an unchurched background. In this honest discussion, we'll discuss the principles and methods that make us effective at reaching a post-Christian generation with the Gospel.

Experiential Evangelism: Knocking Down the Barriers to Faith

John Burke

Imagine thousands of people in our post-Christian world coming to faith and becoming the Church. In Austin, Texas, this is reality. Hear stories of how it's happening and discover how it can happen in your community. Find out how experiential evangelism removes barriers and learn how imperfect people from every imaginable background can actually become all God intended as you create a culture for this kind of growth in your church

Fulfilling the Great Commission One Healthy Marriage at a Time

Matthew Turvey , Eric Garcia

First comes love, then comes marriage--followed by a multitude of relationship problems that often leave church leaders feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped to minister to the needs of people in their church. Learn how to integrate resources, such as Couple Checkup, a churchwide relationship assessment and feedback tool, and the Marriage Matrix, to initiate or strengthen your church’s approach to relational ministry. Healthy marriages produce strong families that create vibrant, world-transforming churches.

Hindus, Homosexuals and the Hard to Reach: Evangelism in a Post-Christian World

Eric Bryant

In a world that's becoming increasingly diverse and post-Christian, the Church needs to rediscover how to serve, love, befriend and reach people with whom we disagree, differ or even dislike. Discover principles and practical ways to make inroads into the lives of those the Church has a hard time reaching.

Ignite: Sparking Immediate Church Growth (for Sr Pastors only)

Nelson Searcy

In this frank discussion for senior pastors, learn how to lead your church to keep the evangelistic temperature white hot. Plus, walk away with a proven process that could double your church in a day.

In the Red Zone: Train Your Church to Help Others Cross the Line of Faith

Kent Tucker

Do the people in your church know how to lead someone to faith? When was the last time they were truly trained? We’ve identified four simple “plays” to help a person talk to someone who’s open to God but hasn’t crossed the line of faith. Learn how to train your church to execute these plays with confidence: Present the Gospel in a simple and compelling way; Lead someone to faith in Christ; Respond in a positive way if someone is not receptive; Deal with questions you cannot answer.

Killing Cockroaches

Tony Morgan

Great leaders don't have to do everything. The key is to play from your strengths while building a team that manages around your weaknesses. In other words, learn to avoid reacting to the urgent and focus on fulfilling God's purpose in your leadership and ministry.

Leading a Church into the Community

Miles McPherson

It takes motivation and mobilization to move your congregation toward an outward-focused mindset. In this practical session, Miles McPherson will share the five essentials of leaders who equip and empower their churches to take the Gospel out and into their community.

Leading a New Generation of World-Changers

Todd Phillips

We have a generation that is hungry to do something with their beliefs. These young men and women are fed up with relying on politicians and charitable organizations to provide for the disenfranchised. They don’t struggle with the tension of social justice and the Gospel because they don’t see any tension between the two. This generation is ready to dig deep and dirty up their hands. Is your church creating hurdles or pathways for these Christ-followers to put their faith in action?

Leading Your Church to Explosive Growth

Bill Easum

God expects the Kingdom to grow FAST, and that means churches must grow. In this breakout, we'll examine the issues involved in developing and sustaining a fast-growing church, including staffing, structuring, financing and positioning yourself in a place where God can send the growth. This breakout is designed for all size churches

Leveraging the Internet to Gather, Disciple and Create Community

Drew Goodmanson

We’ve all heard about Web sites, social networking, search engines and blogs. But how effective is your church’s Internet strategy in the areas of outreach, creating community and discipleship? Learn practical ways to enhance your Web ministry and reach hundreds, if not thousands, of people. We’ll look at case studies and discuss best practices from churches that have succeeded in online ministry. Whether you’re an Internet expert or a Web novice, you’ll leave with practical strategies to use technology for outreach.

Liturgy as a Tool for Evangelism

Todd Hunter

Most of us would not expect to see liturgy and evangelism in the same sentence. In this workshop Todd Hunter, recently consecrated an Anglican Bishop, will show how ancient liturgy was actually designed to be an effective evangelism and discipleship tool. This workshop will be especially useful for delegates from mainline traditions and also those who are interested in ancient/future worship styles.

Mobilizing Your Church for Outreach

Kevin Harney

The greatest tool for effective and world-changing outreach is something every church has — people. Jesus said, "Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send workers out into His harvest fields." The absolute best way to reach your community with the Good News is by mobilizing men and women, young and old, new believers and long-time Christians, to share faith in natural ways. In this breakout, discover tools to equip the people in your church to do organic, non-threatening outreach.

One Church for All People: Reaching Your Ethnically Diverse Community

Arturo Lucero

Do the people in your church reflect the people in your community? The growing ethnic diversity of America poses a mortal threat to the local Church—churches that do not reach out to the people outside their doors will eventually die. In this breakout, we’ll consider a ministry model to help you grow a healthy church in an ethnically diverse community. A model that serves assimilated immigrants while ministering to recent immigrants in their language and cultural context.

Online Evangelism: Where the Streets Have No Name

Carlos Whittaker

The wave of online community is not only here, but it’s shifting again. In this breakout, we’ll explore the challenges and opportunities that online communities such as Twitter, Facebook and blogs bring us. We will answer your questions: Should my church be on Facebook? Should I blog? Do online communities have to get offline to be real communities? We’ll explore the philosophical shift we must take to see the online experience as real as the physical streets and its implications on the direction of evangelistic outreach.

Overcoming the Ministry Dumb Tax

Geoff Surratt

Based on pastor interviews, as well as personal experience, this session will identify the 10 most common mistakes leaders make that keep otherwise healthy churches from experiencing exponential growth. Using humor and practical insight from pastors such as Craig Groeschel, Mark Batterson and Perry Noble, we’ll point out the errors and help you chart a practical course of action to recover from each mistake. Think of this session as a field guide for the common leader.

Permission to Speak Freely – Things We Can’t Say In Church

Anne Jackson

During the medieval times, a rule called the "Right of Sanctuary" allowed a warring team that knew it was in danger of defeat to move into the sanctuary of the church for safety. However, in our modern culture, people perceive the church as an unsafe place to work through their own personal battles. In May 2008, author Anne Jackson asked a simple question on her blog: "What's one thing you feel like you can't say in church?" Hundreds of people responded. "I'm addicted to porn, and I'm a mom"; "I'm a pastor, and I think I might be gay"; "I feel like I can't talk about the poor in my church!"; "I struggle with depression, and I'm afraid to tell you"; "I had an abortion"; "I'm having an affair." This session will share profound confessions of both church leaders and attendees. We'll look at the common denominator of why people feel they can't talk about certain things in the church. And we'll talk about what we can do in our own lives to encourage and cultivate a culture where confession is encouraged, so that together, we can live whole and healed lives

Planting Fast-Growing Churches: Finding the Common Factors and Revealing the Blind Spots

Stephen Gray

Why do some church plants grow rapidly while others seem to struggle and stall? While every new church is different, there are common factors and blind spots found in the life of every start-up that can help you determine whether or not your church will grow rapidly. Hear some of the latest research on some of the country's fastest-growing church plants.

Realtime Connections: Using Your Job to Change the World

Bob Roberts, Jr.

Most churches think in terms of religion when they think of faith. But it's is much broader than that. How do we help the people in our churches think deeply about using what they do to make a big difference and live out their faith in real time? In this breakout, we'll explore how we can help people learn to view their vocation as their "Jerusalem" and how we as leaders can help to create these world-changing opportunities.

Reclaiming a Generation of Church Dropouts

Sam Rainer

Seven out of 10 young adults (aged 18-22) leave the Church. Why do so many leave, and what will it take to bring them back? These important questions were answered through a national survey of young adults. Come hear the stories of these so-called “church dropouts.” Their answers are surprising, having less to do with "losing their religion" and more about the desire for a vibrant community.

Relational Church Planting

Troy McMahon

Researchers and experts agree that church planting is the most effective way to reach new people with the Gospel. It is hard work, but doing it relationally (with others) increases effectiveness, impact and even fun. Get specific insight from the church planting trenches on how to not just survive the experience but thrive in the midst of it.

Rethinking Gospel and Conversion

Rick Richardson

As a result of the new cultural challenges of postmodernism and postcolonialism, we are asking ourselves profound questions: • Is our Gospel too small? • Is our language too parochial? • Is our conversion too easy? • Does our Western cultural context blind us to what God is doing in our day? This breakout will help you rethink the Gospel, reimagine evangelism and conversion, and set you on a path to greater fruitfulness and collaboration with God.

Servolution for the One

Dino Rizzo

No matter where you live, hurting people are in your midst. Learn to hear what others in your community don’t hear and see what they don’t see. Through stories of what God has done and is currently doing through the people at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, LA, you’ll find inspiration and practical ideas for starting a Servolution in your church, community and world. Here’s your guide to helping the people in your church realize the pure joy of Matthew 25.

Small Church Idea Forum

Chuck Warnock

Small churches can effectively reach their communities by developing multifaceted outreach strategies that minimize cost and maximize results. This breakout will offer a place to gather with leaders facing some of your same challenges, as well as a free exchange of ideas — what worked, what failed and what these church leaders would do differently. Come ready to network, tell your story and learn from other small church leaders

Sticky Church: Strategies for Slamming Your Back Door Shut

Larry Osborne

Sticky churches not only attract people — they know how to keep people for the long haul. It doesn't matter how many people come through our front door if the back door is left wide open. In this breakout, you’ll learn why stickier churches are healthier churches; what makes a church genuinely sticky; and strategies for slamming your back door shut.

The 5 Most Common Evangelism Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Larry Moyer

Evangelism is not always easy. But there are times when we make it harder than it needs to be. We've identified five common mistakes believers make complicating everything they say and do when sharing their faith. In this breakout, we'll explore these mistakes and discover ways to avoid them.

The Art of Listening to 20-Somethings

Dan Kimball

While wisdom, maturity and experience come with age, today's younger generations have unique insight that continues to birth innovative ideas. For example, the creators of Facebook, Google and MySpace were all in their 20s when they developed new ways to connect socially. In the Church, we must listen to the younger, often overlooked voices. But if our church is aging, how do we find these younger voices and ideas? And how do we understand and even translate those ideas to make actual change for our churches? In this session, we'll explore what it looks like to bridge the generations and why the older need the younger (and vice versa) to accomplish the mission of the Church.

The Big Story: Sharing the Gospel That Jesus Taught

James Choung

Do we present a Gospel that’s too small? When our Gospel is concerned primarily about the after life, today’s unchurched find our message arrogant and irrelevant. In this breakout session, discover a clear, field-tested way to present a larger vision of the Gospel — one closer to what Jesus taught. Learn why the big story — including the essential phrases designed for good; damaged by evil; restored for better; and sent together to heal — connects with friends who live in an increasingly unchurched culture and encourages believers to share a faith that truly feels like good news.

The Birth of Innovation

Greg Atkinson

We serve a creative, living God who continually does new things in our world and His Church. Our responsibility is to look and listen to discover those new wineskins. For the past two years, Greg Atkinson has traveled the country meeting with church leaders and gathering stories of church innovation. Through these firsthand conversations, Atkinson is learning what the Church of the future will need to do to reach people far from God. In this breakout, he’ll share these ideas and insights gleaned from his travels. Come ready to hear the stories of impact and share what God is doing in your midst.

The Excellence Myth

Shawn Wood

Is our drive to be excellent killing our effectiveness at reaching people who don’t know Christ? It seems that an increasing number of church leaders today are worshipping at the idol of excellence and innovation. In this breakout, Seacoast Church Experiences Pastor and author Shawn Wood will discuss the potential impact of this growing trend on our churches and our outreach. If we want to reach our community, we will be effective. If we want to impress them with how cool our church is, we will be excellent. This breakout pleads for a return to the pursuit of Jesus as we engage the people around us.

The Open Media Revolution: The Shift That Will Change Everything

Phil Cooke

We’re experiencing the greatest change in our culture since the invention of the printing press. This digital media transformation is about more than watching movies on your mobile phone or having a Facebook page. It's a fundamental shift that’s changing everything. Discover how current media changes are impacting culture, and what you need to do to be ready.

To Save A Life - One of the Largest Outreaches for Teens Ever!

Jim Britts , Dave Anderson , Marc Harper

Join Jim Britts (Writer/Producer of To Save A Life), Dave Anderson (Cornerstone University - Division Chair & Professor of Media Studies), and Marc Harper (General Manager - Outreach Films). Learn how to use the next big theatrical release to reach and equip the next generation and their families. Teens are facing tougher circumstances then any previous generation. They need help and so do their parents. Learn strategies and creative ideas to make the most of this movie and equip your families to reach out and grow your church.

Transformed Churches That Transform Their World

Rickie Bradshaw

Global research indicates that more than 900 communities and nations around the world are experiencing the transforming power of God in ways the Church has not encountered since the First Testament Church. Join Pastor and urban church planter Rickie Bradshaw as he discusses the common principles and obstacles of transformation prevalent throughout the world. As the Church in America responds to the need for spiritual transformation of our cities, we must learn from others to become transformed churches that transform their world.

Turning Consumers Into Missionaries in the Local Church

Hugh Halter

In this practical session, you’ll walk through the process author and trainer Hugh Halter has used in churches throughout the world to turn consumers into missionaries and cognitive disciples into apprentices of Jesus. Learn about processes that finally combine deep spiritual formation with incarnational practices. This is where the change in your church begins.

Unexpected Breakthroughs: Overcoming Barriers in Small Towns and Hard-to-Reach Places

Charles Hill

Has God called you to somewhere crazy? Maybe you're in a small, rural town where naysayers say repeatedly, "It can't be done." Maybe you're in an inner city where resources are scarce. Or in the middle of a highly unchurched area. Maybe you are working with a small budget or a small staff and the odds seem insurmountable. If you hope to make a big impact where "that can't be done here" is a familiar phrase, this breakout session is for you. Charles Hill has planted, consulted with and started conferences for churches facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Join him in breaking barriers where revival comes together with relevance.

When Churches (and Leaders) Get Stuck

John Bishop

People often feel "stuck"–- in life, relationships, financial situations or jobs. As church leaders, we, too, can get stuck. The Church is God's vehicle to change the nations, and Jesus promised that He would build His Church. However, unchurched people aren't coming to our churches, and if they do come, they aren't staying. Living Hope Senior Pastor John Bishop examined the pathway to change in his own church and in this breakout will share his experience, insights and stories for leaders feeling stuck.

Witness: The Missional Strategy of Outreach

David Fitch

More and more, churches find themselves in the strange, new cultural context of post-Christendom, which offers us no common assumptions to rely on and no common authority to appeal to as we attempt to communicate the Gospel. People today do not accept the authority of Scripture. They see Jesus in new and strange ways. This new context demands a different approach called “witness.” We’ll examine how we can lead our congregations into the practices of being everyday and holistic witnesses for the Gospel in a post-Christian culture.

Your Church, Your Community and God’s Heart for the Poor

Jym Kay

What does the biblical mandate to "Love your neighbor as yourself" look like? How do we love our neighbors in this way when they are the people of economic need in our community? This practical breakout will help you to go from classroom training to community transformation. We’ll talk about compassion, justice, mobilizing your congregation, partnering with other organizations, the how-to's of effective research resulting in community projects and programs--all with the goal of teaching you how to equip your church to know and go.

Zagging When Others Zig

Stacy Spencer

The new rule is: When everybody zigs, you zag. Are you zagging in your community – standing out from all of the traditional attempts that cause people to run away from God? Or are you zigging – doing the same thing as every other church and complaining about the same results? Radical differentiation is about finding a whole new market space you can own and defend. Your ministry brand is not who you say you are; it’s who they say you are.

Click here for details on our 4 main general sessions Click here for pre-convention events Click here for interactive schedule Click here for a downloadable breakout session schedule

Choose from any one of 50 exceptional breakouts to add to your NOC experience! Bring a team - there are too many to choose from for an individual attendee!

Breakouts